Posture correcting device



Mar'ch 5, 1946. l. QLEISKY l 2,395,936

POSTURE `CORRECTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 12, 1944 -2 ShietS-Sheet 2 .22,2Me/fok ical and medical fact that the feet Patented Mar. 5, 1946 *eUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v 2,395,936 v A.

ros'rURE coRREo'rmG DEVICE Isaaore oleisky, chicago, 1li; ApplicationOctober 12, 1944, Serial No. 558,403

My invention relates to an adjustable and foot correcting device and amethod of treatment aiming at the cure of acute, chronic and infectiousdiseases by a correction of the mechanics of the body, adapted to beused by attachments to th'e human foot-or by merely standing on suchdevicefor relatively short intervals of time in order to accomplish thebenefits hereinafter described.

More particularly my invention is designed and adapted for correctingdeformities of the bones, reducing or eliminating abnormal contractionand abnormal stretching of the muscles brought about by improperemployment-of heel and sole lifts without due regard or understanding ofthe mechanics of the body. In treatment, the principle of leverage isemployed to fatigue contracted (hypertonic) muscles, thereby causingstretches (hypotonic) muscles to, 4 develop spasm which is the onlything that can draw bones, organs and other tissues closer to theirideal position or state. Methods now practiced or applied increasedistortion and deformity. The object of my device is to decreasedistortion, deformity and fatigue, and to increase vitality andprolongation of useful life. Such objective keeps in mind the correctemployment of heel and sole lifts based on the anatomdationof the body.

Congenital' deformities `normally maintain a part of the muscles inabnormal contraction and another part thereof in abnormal stretch. Inmany instances, such deformities are further increased and aggravated bygravity alone, gravity coupled with other forces such as overload,fatigue, diet and other external forces -which compel furthercontraction of the already deformity-set contracted muscles. In sometypes `of congenital deformities, it is the deformities of the boneswhich determine what particular muscles should be contracted orstretched in order to bring about partial or full correction. Congenitaldeformities usually cause certain bones to twist exercising torsion andnormally creates a state of abnormal strain upon not only the musclesbut all parts of the body and causing' incorrect posture.

Presently known treatments, having astheir purpo-se the correction ofthese conditions, both medical and manipulative, have been haphazard,and in the relatively limited number of cases where favorable resultshave been obtained, they have been accidental.

Correct diagnosis is necessary for successful cure and correction. Thesymptoms which are are the founpresent and which are manifestations ofvarying degrees of torque caused thereby should be care-` fully analyzedand it should be ascertained what bones have deviated from the idealpositions. After this has been ascertained, it can then be determinedwhat bones have deviated from the ideal position and correctdetermination can" be made as to the direction of drive that must beimparted to reduce the ltorsion and deformity of the patients body. Itis indispensable that correct diagnosis and correct treatmentbepracticed in order successfully to accomplish the elimination ofdistortion and deformity and so as to avoid any increase thereof. Suchpractice includes steps which reduce torque and which will move parts ofthe body in directions opposite to the paths that the parts took inattaining the particular distortion.

In treatment of many types of deformities, itv

feet are the foundation of the body and that the proper treatment willeliminate the deformity which has set the direction of the twist andwhich treatment will reverse the direction of torque wholly or partlycausing deformity.

It is an object of my invention to provide means and devices of thehereinvdescribed class which may be satisfactorily used for thecorrection of incorrect posture and of congenital deformities,

and which include two or more pivotally connected members adjustablewith relation to each other and adapted to be either stood upon atintervals or attached to the feet and walked upon for a relatively shortperiod of time.

4A further object of my invention is the provision of adjustabledeformity correcting devices comprising portable units which include twoor more block-like members which are separable one from the other andwhich' may be mounted and connected together in various relativepositions,

wherein the upper surface of one of said members will be positioned andinclined in relation with the other, and which units are adapted tosupport the feet in the desired positions, which positions are necessaryfor the contraction of some muscles and the stretch of other muscles andfor more correct positioning of bones and other parts of the body.

A further object of my invention is the provision of deformitycorrecting devices of the class described comprising a plurality ofblock-like members, certain of which are separably connected, and bracemembers or spacer-parts ad- Y. relation to the lower or base member, andwhich -when stood upon or walked with will exercise various muscles insuch manner as to gradually correct conditions which cause thedeformity.

The object of my invention, therefore is to provide a posture and footcorrective device which at one operation will contribute to thereduction and gradual elimination of faulty posture control.

A further object of my invention is to provide an appliance, apparatusor corrective device for the feet, with adjustable parts and functionsto correct congenital and other deformities.

A further object of my invention is to have the adjustable partsfunction in a manner and mode suited to the needs of the congenital de-A the herein described apparatus, appliance or device as a shoe to beworn and adjusted to suit the needs of the deformity corrective'measures and treatment.

A further object of my invention is to provide corrective device similarto the construction shown in Fig. 4 and including the foot engagingblock or member and slidable'adjustable block adapted to forma completesatisfactory corrective device which is adjustable either longituvdinally or transversely.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, reference numeral I0 designates asubstantially elongated base or base member which may be made of wood,metal or other suitable material, and which terminates on opposite endsM and i2 and whose upper fac is designated by numeral Il.

Reference numeral I4 designates a foot. engaging elongated member madeof wood or other suitable material and of length preferably greater thanthat of the normal human foot. Said foot engaging member or support i6,preferably, has its heel-end beveled or rounded and an optional arcuateguard i5 fastened to said rounded end by suitable fastening means, suchas nails or tacks IB, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 4.arid 6.

A suitable hinge composed of a pair of cooperating hinge knuckles, orequivalent pivoting elements and designated as I1 has its upper partsecured by suitable fastening means to the heelend face of the footengaging or sole-support I4 and preferably beneath the intermediateportion of the heel-guard i5. The lower part of hinge i 1, whichpreferably, though optionally, has its lower edge I1b arcuate and spacedfrom the lowermost corner of base l0. ls adjustably secured to the endsurface of base Ill by screws lla or equivalent releasable fasteningmeans. Said lower part of hinge I1 is preferably provided with a pair ofarcuate slots I8 through which the outer screws are mounted, and whichscrews thread into the heel-end of base lll so .as to provide foroptional transverse rocking movement of the footengaging support I 4through the medium of adan apparatus. appliance 0r device solely as a'60 instable pivoting or said hinge l1, for the purpose mechanicalmedium employed for the correction of body deformities.

Other and nirther objects of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing descriptions and claims.

My invention is described in the following specications with referenceto numerals of reference on the accompanying two drawings.

Fig. 1 is a. side elevational view of my posture an foot correctingdevice, illustrating certain parts in cross-section.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the right hand end portion ofillustration, Fig. l,

Fig. .3 is a cross-sectional view taken on a vertical plane indicated byline 3-3 of Fig. l.

1 spacer-member 20 in relation to fragments of the base illustrated inFig. 4, but for the same pur poseof being slidably adjustable to achievethe necessary incline of soleor upper-member il of the device. Y

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the movable brace Y which is illustrated inside elevation in the left portion of Fig. 4, and taken substantiallyalong the line 8-8 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the foot o and 7.

Said locking groove i9 forms a guideway and' is adapted to receive theintegral tongue or extension 2i of the slidable adjustable'brace,support or bracket 2li, as illustrated in Figs. 3, 5 and '7.

The slidable bracket, support or brace 20 may be made of wood, metal orother suitable material and extends upwardly and terminates in bali,extension or head 22, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. Said ball or head22 is adapted to slide in slot, groove or channel 23 formedlongitudinally in foot-engaging support I4, and which is preferably ofnarrower breadth at its opening than the breadth of the inner part ofsaid groove or channel 23, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

" The foot-engaging member or pivotal support edsadiusting or set screw21 which vthreadingly engages the threaded passage of nut 25m brace 26.Said nut 25 is optionally secured in the enlarged portion of thetransverse passage by an optional set screw 28 shown in dotted lines inFig. 1.

A suitable-flange or collar 29 is mounted upon the adjusting screw 21adjacent to the inner face 'of the bracket 26. It will be understoodthat rotation of the screw 21, through means ,of rotating its accessiblehead, will move the base or bracket 20 longitudinally with respect tosaid base I0 and said foot support I4 to effect sliding movement betweenthe head 22 and groove 23 and between the downwardly projecting tongue2I and groove I9, and that counter-movement will move said base orbracket 26 in the opposite direction so as to selectively position andadjust the foot supporting member I4 at the'desired`angle'and inclinefrom end to end.

Some faulty foot conditions and incorrect posture, especially thosewhich are caused by incorrect and improper muscle actions, require fortheir partial or full correction that the user exercise those muscleswhich actually hold the foot in faulty position, and some of theseconditions require standing upon the corrective device with the toestowards the lower part and while'the users weight or a part thereof i-ssupported upon the foot- These faulty foot and posture conditions arethose which require a stretching of the muscles surrounding the forwardportion of theankle and the contraction ofthe muscles adjacent the heel.In these types of instances, the user will` place his foot upon thecorrective device with the toes adjacent and at least partially againstthe foot retaining member or counter at the lower Where nut 25 ismounted as stated, it threadingly engagesA after` analysis anddetermination of the exercises to VYbe given to each respective toot andto the body, two separate corrective devices of the general typedescribed may easily be adjusted to entirely different and oftenopposite positions to be used by the patient by standing thereon fordesired periods of time at daily or similar intervals, orby walkingtherewith after attaching the same with the aid of strap or similarmeans (asfragmentarily illustrated in Fig. 4 Vat numeral 30).

Referring to Fig. 4, the base block I0 has se-f cured to its heel-end,substantially as indicated at I2, one portion of'a hinge, and the uppei`block I4 is hingeably or pivotally connected with said hinge by screwsor the like in the usual manner as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. The endportion of the upper or sole-support block I4 has secured thereon aflexible counter or retaining member I5 by a plurality of nails asindicated for the purpose herein described.

In the modified form of Figs. 4 and 6, the externally threaded adjustingor set screw '21, in stead of being journalled in bracket 26 of Fig. 1,is journalled in a hole in the lower section of hinge I1 (see Figs. 5and 6), and is held by collar or thrust member 29 secured on screw 21adjacent hinge I1, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

As illustrated in Figs, 4, 5 and 8, and Fig. '7, the base block I0 hasan upwardly opening dove-tail groove I9 therein extending substantiallybut not entirely along its length. The spaced member or block 20, whichmaybe made of wood, metal or other suitable material, has a downwardlyextending dove-tail integral tongue or projection 2'I' (Fig. 7) whichfits into and slidably engages the groove I9; the lower faces of sideportions of the base surface of said spacer member 2U sliding along theupper surface of block III. The upper periods as a corrective sandal, itbeing only necessary to utilize straps .or uppers capable of beingattached about the foot.

Referring te Fig. 4, reference numeral 30 designates a strip of leatheror other material fastened at or near the toe end of the foot-engagingelongated member by screws 3 I.

The degree of the fault of the particular ffoot, or degree of theincorrect posture as analyzed by an experienced advisor, will determinethe positions the foot of the user should be in during correctivetreatments, and devices of the construction I describe and illustratereadily permit the change and adjustment of the corrective device tomeet the corrective requirements of the Vfoot conditions and incorrectpostures.

For example, in Some individuals having incorrect posture, a definitefault and conditions are I6 or sole-supporting block or member I4 hasformed therein a longitudinally extending opening or groove 32 which isof a width sulcierit to receive the bolt or screw-head 35 of a bolt 36,and said groove 32 extends from the toe-end of block `I4 to asubstantial distance beyond the mid-point of said block I4.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the brace member 20 isslidably mounted withI respect to said base block I0 and upper block I4and that/movement of the brace or spacer member or block vin eitherdirection will respectively increase or decrease the incline of upperblock I4.

I provide an easily adjustable means for holding the slidably mountedbrace member 20, whether by means as illustrated in Figs. l and 3, orasv illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and '7, in desired position, or byadjusting to the desired position the angle of the upper block I4 asillustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and '7.

A headed bolt 36, which preferably has a washer 31 thereon. is i'lrstinserted through the channel or groove 32 and then into the upperopenings or slot 4I formed in the metal bracket or brace 2Il-a as. shownin Figs. 4, 5 and 9. Said slot or opening in the saddle-like brace 2li-ais preferably a cross in shape as illustrated in Fig. 8, and

a portion of which slot or opening 4I is shown in Fig. 4. Thesaddle-like `brace 26-a is preferably formed ofone strip of metal whichis bent as found in one foot as compared to the other. and

Thel upper portion of said metal brace 2li-a ls preferably rounded, bothin a longitudinal direction with respect to the long axis of the device,as well as transversely, it being understood that when the foot-engagingmember I4 is adjusted to tilt or incline in a transverse direction, theunder face of the forward portion of the foot-engaging member I4 willnevertheless rest upon some portion of the upper `ounded face of themetal brace 2Il-a, and re ardless of what adjusted transverse orlongitudinal incline is attained by manually adjusted movement, the bolt36 will be in a position to project through some portion of saidcross-shaped slot 4I so as to eiciently provide for the releasablemounting on the flower threaded end'of said bolt 36 of a winged nut 34as well as a optional washer 34-a above said wing nut 34.

By tightening the released nut 34 after either f the desired inclinewhile the wing nut 34 is released, the` screws I'I/-a of said hingeV.may be tightened.

Referring to the form of Figs, 4, 5 and 8, the

manner the unit may be satisfactorily used in the aforesaid mannerwithout any base connected thereto.

I desire to point out that the foot engaging block-like member I4, suchas illustrated in Fig. 4 may have one end thereof, for example the heelend, positioned directly upon the floor or other supporting surface, andthat the movabiy mounted spacer member, such as 20 or 20-a having a fiatbottomv surface, may be likewise positioned directly upon a floor orother supporting surface and adjustably positioned to the desirablepoint so as to support the foot engaging block member I4 at the desiredincline. I have illustrated in Fig. 9 this construction which can besatisfactorily used to accomplish the novel Vadyantages and use 4which Ihave hereinbefore recited. In such construction wherein the base blockmay be entirely omitted, the desired position of the brace 20 or 2liamay be attained by loosening the wing nut 34 and bolt 36 and rebrace20--a has formed in the upwardly extending portion thereof nearest thehinge II a threaded aperture 24-a which is threadingly engaged by theelongated metal adjusting screw 2'I which is journalled in an apertureformed in the upper portion of the lower strap of the hinge I'I,and\which adjusting mounted screw 21 also hasl secured thereon thethrust and retaining collar 2S as stated'.

Referring to Fig. 7, I show therein a slightly modified shape and formof slidable brace 2li-b, which has its integral dove-tailed tongue rextension 2I-b slidably engaging the dove-tailed groove I 9 in the baseI0, only a fragment of which` is therein illustrated. As shown in thisFig. 7, the block 20b may be of wood, plastic or other suitablematerial, and the same has formed therein a transversely extending slot43 which extends downwardly a short distance and merges with a slot 44which preferably opens the forward face of said brace 2li-b.

In said Fig. 7, I illustrate a broken side intermediate segment of afoot engaging member I4-b having a central longitudinally extending slot32-b therein, which is preferably bevelled and `substantially ofV-shaped cross section. A bolt SI5-lb, preferably having a bevelledwasher 34-b thereon, is Apositioned so that the bevelled surface of saidwasher 34-b will frictionally engage the under surface partiallydefining the slot 32-b. A nut 31 is adapted to be releasably secured onthe lower end portion of the said bol-t 36-b, as partially illustratedin Fig. 7.

The upper face of the brace 2li-b is preferably tying the same aftermovement of braces 20 or 2lia to the desired positions.

Inasmuch as many foot deformities and incorrect posture conditionsrequire correction treatment in transverse or side to side direction, mydevice and particularly the adjusting means including 4the adjustabletypically mounted hinge permit the us'er to adjust the transverselyextending plane of the foot support I4 to the desired degree byreleasing the screws 3I of the lower butt-of hinge II`and pivoting saidhinge and thereupon re-tightening said 4screws 3I to thereby positionand hold the foot supporting member I4 ln any desired inclined planewhich is within the limits of and which would be needed rounded orbevelled and the same is designated as 20--c so that when the footengaging member I4--b is inclined transversely it will nevertheless restupon a substantial portion of the said rounded surface 2li-c of saidbrace 2li-b.

In Fig. 9 I illustrate the lower parts of brace 20-A as resting directlyon the iioor or other supporting surface, and with the bottom face ofthe brace engaging such supporting surface. In this for foot correctivepurposes.

I am aware that various changes may be made in the embodiment of theinvention herein specifically described without departing from orsacricing any of the advantages of the invention or any featuresthereof.

I claim as my invention:

' 1. In an adjustable foot exercising device; a pair of upper and lowerelongated grooved blocks having adjacent ends removably andpivotallyconnected together at said adjacent ends, the lower block providing abase, said lower block having an upwardly opening longitudinal groove; apivoting member connecting one adjacent end of each said blocks; aspacer-member having a slidable connection with the base block groove,and having a slidable connection with the upper block wherebylongitudinal movement of said spacer-block or member will pivot upwardlyone end portion of said upper block and adjust the incline thereof tothe desired position.

2. In an adjustable posturecorrecting device; a pair of upper and lowerelongated blocks; having one end thereof adjacent to each other; apivoting member pivotally connecting said blocks together at oneadjacent` end; the blocks being substantially fiat; a movablespacer-member between and normally engaging said blocks; and screw meansrotatably connected with respect to one of said blocks and threadinglyengaging said spacer-member so that ro.ation of said screw will movesaid spacer-member longitudinally with respect to said blocks to therebyposition said upper block in the desired inclined position.

3. In a foot exercising and posture correcting device of the describedclass, an elongated base; an elongated upper foot-engaging memberremovably connected to one end of said base; said base having anupwardly opening longitudinal aseaeso extension slidably engaging theguideway of said -base block and having an upper portion engaging saidupper block; a threaded adjusting bolt mounted in and engaging saidspacer-member;

the rotation of the bolt being adapted to slide said spacer-memberlongitudinally with respect to said blocks to thereby adjust'theposition oi said footengaging member.

4. In a i'oot exercising and posture correcting device of the describedclass; an elongated base an elongated upper toot-engaging memberremovably connected to one end oi said base; said base and said-upperfoot-engaging member having a longitudinal guideway therein; aspacermember having an extension slidably engaging the guideway of saidbase block; said spacermember having an upper extension and a cross pinin said extension, said extension and pin slidably engaging thelongitudinal guideway oi said `upper block; a journalled adjusting boltthreadwith the base block groove whereby longitudinal movement of saidbrace will pivot the upper block and adjust the longitudinal inclinethereof to the v desired position, said hinge being releasable from saidblocks to provide for adjusting the transverse incline of said upperblock. l

8. In a posture correcting device an elongated foot supporthaving acentral longitudinal slot therein forming a guideway; a brace memberhaving an upper reduced extension mounted in and slidably engaging saidguideway, the lower portion of said brace being adapted to engage asupporting surface; a longitudinally extending adjusting boltoperatively connected to one end of said foot support and having athreaded con- Inection with said brace whereby the said bolt,

ingly engaging said spacer-member; the rotation of the bolt beingadapted to slide said spacermember longitudinally to adjust the relativepositions of said blocks to thereby move said base.

5. In a foot exercising and posture correcting device; a base block; anupper elongated blocklike member providing a ioot support and separablyconnected to said base block and adapted to be-engaged by the usersi'oot; a spacing and brace member having a slidable. connection withsaid upper block-like member, whereby said base block is slidablelongitudinally to move said block and said member toward or away fromeach other; and manually adjustable means for sliding said brace memberin either direction to thereby adjust the relative positions ot saidblock-like member and said base block.

In a ioot exercising and posture correcting device; a base block; anupper elongated blocklike foot-engaging vmember separably connected tosaid base block and adapted to be engaged by the users foot; a bracemember lhaving a slidable connection with said base block and having aslidable connection'with said upper block-like member whereby said baseblock is slidable longitudinally to move said block and said membertoward or away` from eachother; manually adjustabiev means for slidingsaid brace member in either direction to thereby adjust the relativepositions of said block-like memberl and said base block; and afoot-engaging member connected to upon rotating, will move said brace ineither direction to adjust the inclination of said toot support. l

9. In a posture correcting device, an elongated centrally slotted footengaging member; a downwardly extending slotted plate secured to one endof said foot support; releasable screws securingl said plate to saidfoot support, said plate being adjustable so as to selectively adjustthe transverse incline oi said foot support; a downwardly extendingbrace having Iits upper portion in sliding engagement with said footsupport slot, a releasable screw connecting said foot support and saidbrace, the longitudinal movement of said brace being adapted to increaseor decrease the longitudinal incline ot said foot support.

10. In a posture correcting device, an elongated centrally slotted footsupport; a downwardly extending slotted plate secured to one end of saifoot support; releasable screws securing said plate to said footsupport, said plate being adjustable v c so as to selectively adjust thetransverse incline said upper block adapted to aid in retaining theusers foot in position on said upper block.

7. In an adjustable foot exercising device; a pair cf upper and loweradjacent elongated 'grooved blocks; an adjustable hinge removably andpivotally connecting said blocks together at one adjacent end, saidhinge having slots thereon: screws securing said hinge to said blocks,said lower block having an upwardly opening longitudinal groove; a bracehaving a slidable connection member and engaging said brace and adapted,on

of said foot support; a downwardly extending brace having a ball jointon its upper end in l sliding engagement with said foot support slot,

a releasable adjusting screw connecting said plate and said brace, thelongitudinal movement yoi' said brace being adapted to increaseordecrease the longitudinal incline of said foot support.

11. In a posture correcting device, an elongated centrally slotted i'ootengaging member; an yelongated base; a pivotal connecting elementconnecting one end oi' said base and of said toot engaging member; abrace having upper reduced portion slidable in the slot oi said footengasins member and the lower end of said base being slidable on saidbase; said. pivotally connecting element being adjustable to selectivelyset said foot engaging member in varied transversely inclined positions;andan adjusting screw. oper- .y

atively connected to said pivotally connecting rotation, to move saidbrace longitudinally to selectively adjust the longitudinal incline ofsaid foot engaging member.

ISADORE OLEISKY'.`

